9 F. 304 -

9 F1d 304

Selden's device, known as a saw-mill dog, held to have been anticipated, llJld therefore to be invalid.

In Equity. W. G. Rainey, for complainants. Flanders cf Bottum, for defendant. DYER, D. J., (orally.) There was, some time since, heard and decided in this court the case of Allis v. Stowell, involving the validity of certain patents, one of which was issued to one Selden, and the other to one Beckwith, upon certain devices known as saw-mill dogs. Both patents were sustained, and injunctions were granted. Subsequently, an application was made to reopen the case as to both patents, and after hearing, and investigation of the questions involved,. a rehearing was granted as to the Selden patent, but not as to the Beckwith patent. The case has now been argued before the full bench upon testimony that has been submitted with reference to the validity of . the Selden patent, and as to whether it was not anticipated by the devices that are claimed to have been made and sold as early as 1845, and subsequently by one Page, at Washington, and one Duval, at Zanesville, Ohio. Testimony upon the rehearing, and touching the validity of the Selden patent, has been fully taken, and we have to pass upon the case in the light of the new facts that have been developed. There has been produced what is known as the Duval device. Certainly, the similarity between this device, which anticipated by many years the Selden, and the Selden dog, is quite striking, as is apparent upon mere inspection. A change of the original decree is resisted by the complainants, substantially upon two grounds; the first being that the principal witness for the defendant stands in such an attitude, and occupies such a relation to the defendant, as requires the court to entirely disregard his testimony. The other is that there is such a defect apparent in the construction of the Duval device as must satisfy the court that it could not be made an operative machine. Of course the rule is familiar, that where it is claimed that a patented device is anticipated by another, and that there has been a prior use, it is necessary to show, not, perhaps, that the anticipating device has been actually used, but certainly that it was capable of practical and sue-

ALLIS V. STOWELL.

305

cessful use. It is contended by counsel for complainant that this fact is not established in this case. We cannot, upon careful consideration of the testimony, agree with couI;lsel that the testimony of the witness Robinson, who is one of the witnesses for the defendant, should be entirely disregarded by the court. It seems to be corroborated by other testimony in the case. He is corroborated by the presence of the device which it is claimed anticipates the Selden dog, and which is produced in court, and that is a very powerful circumstance influencing the mind of the court in coming to a conclusion upon that question. Then have also the account book which was kept at the time this device was sold, as far back as 1865 and 1866, which contains entries showing such sales. And so we conclude that the case does not stand alone upon the testimony of the witness Robinson. Then, further, we think that the testimony and the device itself, as it is exhibited to us, show that it was capable of practical use. I may say here that at the first hearing I had not a little difficulty in determining this very question relative to the Selden dog; and it seems to us, upon a comparison of the devices, and upon the best light that we can extract from the testimony that is now submitted, that the testimony is quite as strong that the Duval device is one that could be practically and successfully used, as was the testimony in the original case that the Selden device could be so used. So, with. out elaborating upon the case, or attempting the delivery of an opinion in extenso, we content ourselves with announcing our con· elusion, which is, that these devices, which have been submitted as anticipating the Selden dog, should be held to anticipate it, and therefore that the Selden patent must be declared invalid. I am authorized to say that Mr. Justice HARLAN concurs in this conclusion. v.9,no.5-20

806

FEDERAL REPORTER.

'DEDERICK

v.

CASSELL

and others.·

October 6, 1881.)

(Oircuit Court, E. D. PennsylfJania.

1.

PATENT-REISSUE-DIVISION AND "NEW MATTER."

ENLARGEMENT OF CLAIMS-WHAT IS NOT

While such extensive division and enlargement of claims in reissues as tends to confusion and litigation is reprehensible, it affords no legal ground of objection to the reissues unless" riew matter" is introduced, and nothing plainly embraced in the specifications, model, or drawings is "new matter."

2.

SAME-SUBORDINATE COMBINATIONS NOT CLAIMED IN ORIGINAL PATENT.

While language may be found in Gill v. Wells, 22 Wall. 1, and a few other cases, which, standing alone, might justify a belief that where a general combination embraces minor subordinate combinations not claimed in the original patent, a subsequent introduction of claims for the latter is invalid, yet such a conclusion cannot be reconciled with what has been decided elsewhere, both before and since.

3.

SAME-PRESUMPTION AS TO VALIDITY.

reissue is entitled to a presumption in its favor, and to justify its rejection, on the allegation of "new matter," it must clearly appear that such new mat. ter has been introduced.
4.SAME-COMBINATION-INFRINGEMENT.

new combination is infringed whenever another employs substantially the same combination in plan and elements, operating in the sallle manner and producing substantially the same result. The doctrine of equivalents, with slight modification, applies with as much to such an invention as to any other.
5.SAME-IMPROVEMENTS IN BALING. PRESSES.

Claims Nos. 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 of reissue 8,130, No.3 of reissue 8,316, Nos. 3 and 11 of reissue 7,983, No.6 of reissue 8,292, and No.1 of reissue 8,296, for improvements in baling-presses, '.eld valid, and respondent's machine held to be an infringement.6. SAME.

Bill for injunction against infringement of reissues of patents issued to complainant for improvements in baling-presses. 'fhe answer denied novelty, alleged that the reissues contained ,. new matter," and denied infringement. The facts are sufficiently stated in the opinion.